Volume 19 (2017) Article 7

Holocene elemental, lead isotope and charcoal record from peat in southern Poland

by K. Tudyka, A. Pazdur, F. De Vleeschouwer, M. LityÅ„ska-ZajÄ…c, L. Chróst and N. Fagel

Published online: 05.03.2017

Summary

This article presents a mid-resolution elemental, isotopic and charcoal record from 10700 BC to AD 500 in a peat core located in Å»yglin (southern Poland). The objective is to give insight into the proxies with emphasis on lead (Pb) sources in this minerogenic peat deposit. During the Early Holocene (10700–7550 BC) the average ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb quotient was around 1.196. This isotopic signature is consistent with natural dust derived from long-distance soil and rock weathering. The Mid-Holocene period (7550–3200 BC) shows a significant change in the peat accumulation conditions. The growth rate is approximately 0.04 mm yr^-1 and the ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb quotients are shifted toward values that are found in local galena ores. This is simultaneous with a significantly increased lead flux which further confirms local sources of material in this peat deposit. In the Late Holocene period (3200 BC–AD 500) a large quantity of charcoal particles with diameters ranging from 2 mm up to 3 cm is found; also, Pb, Zn and Cu fluxes reach their highest values. This period corresponds to the Eneolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages, and human impact is recorded as charcoal.

Citation

Tudyka, K., Pazdur, A., De Vleeschouwer, F., LityÅ„ska-ZajÄ…c, M., Chróst, L. & Fagel, N. (2017): Holocene elemental, lead isotope and charcoal record from peat in southern Poland. Mires and Peat, 19(7), 1-18. (Online: http://www.mires-and-peat.net/pages/volumes/map19/map1907.php); 10.19189/MaP.2016.OMB.257

Reviewers

IMCG and IPS acknowledge the work of the reviewers.